Panel-board box



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,422

c. AALBORG v PANEL BOARD BOX Filed Sept.. 16, 1921 4 Sheets-$heet 1 Nov. 13, 1928.

C. AALBORG PANEL BOARD BOX 1921 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16,

WITNESSES: '/Wfm ,fw/wig,

Nov. 13, 1928.

C. AALBORG PANEL BOARD BOX Filed sept. 16. 19214 4 Sheets-Sheet.

WITNESSES:

` fffmml h ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 19215;. 1,691,422

. c. AALBORG PANEL BOARD BOX File@ Sept. 16 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 $111,111 111111111111"111111111111111'l'f1'l111111IlIliff/111111111111111'lill' '1111111111 m :llllla Egg. 10.

fn /6 471 Y ll l I1 l Il lll l l lll llll llllIIllIIIlllll/IIII.UIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Illlllllll wlTNEssEs; INVENToR M Chf/Smm 1a/wy Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED `sra TES VPMENT ori-"ICE,

CHRISTIAN AALBORG, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO 'WESIING- HOUSFi ELECTRIC v8: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

PANEL-Boem `nox.

Application filed september 1e, 192i, seriai No. 501,143.

My invention relates to panel boards and particularly to enclosed panel boards for distributing current to a plurality ofseparate circuits, such, for example, as circuits to a plurality of separate motor or lighting units located in factories, apartment houses and the like.

ne object of my invention is to provide a panel board, the essential elements of which may be assembled in the factory as a unit and which may readily be placed in a suitable main housing at the location in which it is to be used and there constitute a complete enclosed panel board. e

Another object of my invention 1s to provide a panel board wherein all live parts of the electrical devices and their connections are 'fully protected by an enclosure having suitable door-closed openings through which different parts of the device are accessible, the doors being so disposed that ,they may be opened separatelylor `simultaneously for the purpose of exposing only such devices as are tobe operated or inspected.

Another object of my invention is to yprovide a panel board, having the above characteristics, wherein the complete unit comprises three separate compartments, namely, a switch compartment, aL wiring gutter surrounding thel switch compartment and an outer centrally-disposed compartment for enclosing the switch-operating handles, and

wherein the wiring gutter is closed by a cover lil! which may be detachably secured to the main housing and which contains an opening through which -the switch compartment and the outer compartment are accessible, the opening being closed by a main door having a door therein for closing an opening in the main door through which the outer compartment only is accessible.

Another object of my invention is to provide a panel board wherein the main housing is provided with an enclosure for dividin'g it into a wiring gutter and a switch compartment communicating through openings that areclosed by switch panels provided with openings through which the conductors may extend from the switch compartment into the wiring gutter.

vAnother object of my invention is to provide a panel board wherein a housing for .ril

containing the switch mechanism, :fuse devlces, bus bars and connectors comprises a bottom pan and an enclosure device secured thereto, and wherein metal stiiiening devices serve in place of a solid slate or marble insulating base to support'the switch panels. Another object of :my invention is to provide a panel board wherein the switch and fuse devices lare mounted on insulating panels within an enclosure and wherein a pan is disposed over the switch devices to make them inaccessible except when the pan is removed, the pan containing only the operating handles ofthe switches, and wherein y the fuses are accessible only through a space between the pan and the side of the en- Y closure which is closed by a main door, the door, however, being provided with an opening through which only the switch-operating handles within the pan` are accessible and vhich is closed by a door hinged to the main Another object of my invention is to provide a panel board wherein the metal parts y These and other objects, that will be made apparent throughoutzthe further description of my invention, are attained by means off the panel board hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front plan view of a complete l panelboard unit without the cover;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the device shown in Fig. l, with the cover in place, the section being taken on the broken lines II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front plan view of the panel board with the cover in place;

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of a fragment of the devicesliown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the lbroken line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative n pan-supporting device, the section being taken on the line V-V of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a front plan view of a section of a panel board having two bus bars;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional viewT taken on the line VlII-VIII of Fig'. 2 showing the bottom pan and partition in elevation',

Fig. 9 is a fragmental section of the outer pan taken on the line lX-IX of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmenta'l sectional view taken on the line X-X of Fig. 1 showing the bottom pan and an end partition wall in elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the panel board includes a main housing 8 that is constructed of sheet metal, the side walls thereof being provided with inwardly turned flanges 9 to which the cover 11 is secured by means of screws 12.

A sheet metal pan 13, that is provided with marginal flanges 14, is centrally disposed within the main housing and is attached to the bottom of the housing 8 by screws 15. An enclosure, having side walls 16 and 17 of substantially the saine contour as the flanges 14, `is disposed within the housing in superimposed relation with respect to the flanges and serves to divide the main housing into an outer compartment or w'iring gutter 18, which completely surrounds the enclosure, and an inner or switch compartment 19 within which the switch panels and bus bars are mounted.

The lower edges of the wall members 17 are provided with rectangular notches 21 see Fig. 4) for the purpose of providing openings between the inner edges of the wallmembers and the outer edges of the anges 14 through which the ends of the insulating panels 22, that are mounted in the switch lcompartment 19, extend into the wiring gutter 18: The purpose of this arrangement will hereinafter appear.

Heretofore, it has beenconimon practice to mount the switch panels upon an insulating base of slate, marble or other insulating inaterial, secured to, and substantially covering, the bottom of the main housing. rlhis construction is heavy, and expensive for the reason that numerous holes are required for attaching the slate to the 'housing1 and for supportin attaching devices for t e panels.

ln t e present construction, a relatively small slate base 23 is employed for supportin the terminals and bus bars of the feed circuits, which extends entirely across one end of .the pan 13 but does not cover that portion of the pan occupied by the switch panels. Z

hars 24 are secured to the bottom of the pan 13 and extend longitudinally thereof at `right angles to the base a sufiicient distanceto support any desired number of switch panels 22 and serve to support them in spaced relation from the bottom of the pan 13 at such elevation that the inner faces of the panels lie flush with the outer face of the insulating base 23,

The panels 22 are attached to the Z bars 24 by means of screws 25 and 26 which extend through perforations in the panels 22.A The screws 26 serve to attach the supports of the switches 27 to the panel 22 and also serve to conductively connect the support to the Z bar in such manner that the switch support is grounded with respect to the main housing.

As shown in Fig. 1, the switch panels 22 are disposed in rows on opposite sides of the enclosure 19, and the outer ends thereof extend through the notches 21 in the walls 17 and are provided with grooves 28 that are formed between projecting ridges 29 and lugs 31 which are cast integral with the insulating panel 22.

The panels serve to close the openings 21 and are each provided with two perforations or openings 32 which provide passagesthrough which conductors 33A may extend from the wiring gutter 18 into the switch compartment where they are attached to terminals 34 that are connected to threaded metallic socket members 35 'which constitutereceptacles for screw-plug fuses of standard construction. The panels serve to support the lower'edges of the wall members 17 and provide an insulated passage through which the conductors 33 may enter the switch compartment 19. l l

The panels 22, shown on the right-hand side of Fig. 1, are provided with fuse-clip terminals 36 for receivingfcartridge fuses in place of the plug fuses,.both forms of fuse receptacles being shown 'to illustrate the adaptability of the panel arrangement to fuses of either type.. The switches 27, shown in Figs. 1 and 2,are of the tumbler type fully illustrated and described in my co- 'riding appiicauon, serial No. 415,772, sied oa. 9,

1920, but it will be understood that switches of any preferred type may be employed. The

switches are mounted on the inner ends of the panels 22. The terminals thereof are connected to bus bars by terminals 37 which are connected to bus bars 38, 39 and 40 by means of supportin conductors 41, 42 and 43, respectively, o U-shape which are adapted to support the bus bars in superimposed spaced relation, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The supporting conductors 41, 42 and 43 alsol serve to connect the switch terminals on one side of the switch compartment to corresponding terminals of the switches mounted on the panels disposed on the opposite side of the switch compartment. The ends of the bus bars are suitably bent to en age the outer face of the slate base 23 andg are secured thereto b bus bar is rovided with a terminal member 45 to whici the feed conductors of a. threeconductor circuit are attached. The wall member 16 of the enclosure, adjacent the terminals 45, is provided with an opening 46 that is closed by means of an insulating plate 47 that is provided with circular openings 48 lll means of screws 44. Each which register with the ends of the terminals 45 and through which thefeed wires extend into th switch chamber. The plate 47 is disposed on the inner side of the wall member 16 and extends to the outer edge thereof for the purpose of so insulating the wall member 16 in the immediate vicinity of the terminal members 45 that it shall atl'ord promembers of the enclosure and through which the fuses and fuse receptacles are accessible, and serves to substantially cover the switches 27, the bus bars 38, 39 and 40 and the conductor supports 41, 42 and 43. A

The under side yof the pan or partition 49 is indented, as at 53, Figs.' 1, 2 and 9 adj acentv openings 50 for receiving projections 54 mounted on the extreme outer ends of the switch support 30. Lateral displacement of the pan with respect to the switch supports is prevented, and the -pan is conductively connectedto the switch support by reason of the engagement of the projections 54 with the bottom of the pan. I

The pan is supported, at one end, by means of supporting standards 55 which are secured to the bottom of the pan by means of,

screws 56 and,'at the end adjacent the slate base 23,*by means of similar supporting standards 57 that are attached to the slate base by means ot' screwsA 58 (see 4). In some instances, however, the standards 57 may be dispensed with and the end of the pan adjacent vthe slate base is then supported by means of an insulating tube 59 which is secured to the pan 49 by screws 60 and to the panel 22 that is adjacent to the slate `base by means of screws 61, as indicated in Fig. 5.

By reason of this construction,l the necessity for drilling holes in the slate base, in which sockets for the retaining standards 57 are embedded, is eliminated.

The operating handles 62 of the switches 27 are made ot metal and are grounded with respect to the main housing through the switch support 3() by the attaching screws 26, or through the supporting standards 55. The use of the metal handle is perfectly safe under such conditions and is inexpensive in construction.

Referring to Fig. 3, the main cover l1 is provided with an opening 63 that is sub stantially the same size as the switch compartxnent 19 and through which all o`f the apparatus within the switch compartment is accessible. The opening 68 isv closed by a door 64 that is hinged, at one side of the cover 11, by means of hinges 65 and is pro vided with a latch 66 which may be keyac-tuated, ifpreferred. The door 64 is provided with an opening 67 substantially the size and contour of the pan 49 through which only theswitch-operating handles 62 are accessible. The opening 67 is adapted to be closed b a door 68 that is hinged to the door 64 y means of hinges 69 and is provided with a latch 71 that issinilar to theA latch66.

It will be seen from the foregoing that, when the door 68 is open, the switch handles 62 only are accessible, and that, when the door 64 is open, only the fuse receptacles and fuses areaccessible through the spaces 52 on opposite sides of the pan 49.

In'order to gain access to the switch, the

pan 49 must first be removed. When it is' desired to gain access to the wiring gutter 18, the cover 1-1 is removed by first removing the attaching screws.

In panel boards of this type, itis intended to assemble all of the mechanism within the switch chamber `at the factory and to install the complete ensemble within the main housing 8 after the latter has been placed in the wall of the building in which the apparatus' is to be used. For this reason, the pan 13 andthe wall members 16 and-17 are attached to one another by means of corner plates 72, which engage the outer faces of the flanges 14 and' the wall members 16 and 17, and corner l plates 7 3 which engage the inner faces of the flanges 14 and the wall members 16 and 17. I

The plates 72 and 7 3 are drawn together by means of screws 74 which securely clamp the wall members and the pan in assembled relation. The corner plates 72 are provided with integral extensions 75 which constitute attaching lugs to be Secured to the bottom of the-housing 8 by means of bolts 76. The pan and wall members 16 and 17 are made of such size as to accommodate any desired number of panels and, While only two panels are shown in the device illustrated in Fig. 1, any number of panels may be accommodated by extending the length of the en# closures and correspondingly extending the' bus bars along the entire row of panels.

lThe flanges 51 of the pan 49 are joined at the corners by/means of corner plates 77 which are arcuate in shape and provide rounded corners for the pan. The corner plates also serve to support the corners of the free edge of the door 68. The pan is alsoV provided, adjacent each switch handle which projects through the opening 50, with three 11p-struck pro'ections 79, Figs. 1 and 9, which are sheared t irough the plate and serve as seats for identification cards 81 upon which are printed appropriate legends indicating the circuits controlled by the switch. YThe cards are inserted at the upper ends of the end projections 79 andare detachably retained by means of a rib 82 that is indented from the underside of the pan.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown a' modified bus bar structure wherein two bus bars 83 and 84 for a two-conductor circuit are pro.- vided to extend longitudinally of thepanel in superimposed relation. The switch terminals 3T are.connected to the bus bars by means oit the supporting conductors 85 and 8G which serve, in a manner similar to the supporting conductors 4l, 42J and 43 previously referred to, to support-the bus bars and, at the saine time, connect corresponding terminals of the switches disposed-on opposite sides of the bus bars.

The bus bars are bent inwardly into en" gagement with the insulating base 23 and are secured t-hereto by means of screws. 44,

f .in a manner similar to the meansl forattachl feed conductors.-

-While I have shown no main switch, it will be understood that, where no main switch is provided outside of the main housing, any` preferred form of main switch may be mounted upon thel insulating base 23 and connected `between the feed-conductor terminals and their respective busbars. Where a main switch is located within the'main housing, the only change necessary is to inbase 23.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the construction illustra-ted and described provides a simple and compact panel box safety, it being impossible While I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it Awill be apparent to those skilled in the art' that various changes, modifications,l substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims. I claim as my invention:

unauthorized.

mareas substantially the 'same contour as the said flanges and disposed in substantially superimposed relation thereto and extending inwardly into engagement with the said panel for dividing the main housing into an inner and an outer compartment,

2; A panel board comprising a bottom pan, an enclosure member having side walls con- Jforming in contour to the side walls of the pan and terminating adjacent the edges of the pan, the said adjacent edges of the side walls being cutaway to provide openings between the edges of the pan and side walls, and panel members mounted on the pan andl closing the said openings,'the said panel members being provided with'openings through which conductors may extend exteriorly of the enclosure member.

3. A panel board comprising a bottom pan, an enclosure member having side walls conformingin contour' to the side walls of the 'pan and terminating adjacent the edges of the pan, the said adjacent edges of the side walls being cut away to provide openings between the edges of the pan and side walls, means for .attaching the enclosure member to the pan,

stilening members secured to the bottom of the pan, and panel members mounted on the stilening members in spaced relation to the bottom of the pan and closing the said openv ings, the said panel members being provided crease the longitudinal dimenslons of the housing and the width of the insulating van enclosure member having side walls conforming in contour to the side walls of the pan Vand terminating adjacent the edges of the an, the said adjacent edgesof the side walls eing cut away to provide openings between the edges of the pan and side walls, means for attaching the enclosure member to the pan, stiiening members secured to the bottom of the pan, and panel members mounted on the stiii'ening members and extending exteriorly of the side walls ofthe pan and provided with means for engaging the walls ofthe enclosure member for preventing relative lateral displacement of the panel members and the walls ofthe enclosure member.

5. A panel board comprising a bottom pan, an' enclosure member having side walls conforming in contour to the side walls of the pan and terminating adjacent the edges of the pan, the said adjacent edges of the side walls being cut away to provide openings between the edges of the pan and the side walls, means for attaching the enclosure member to the pan, an insulating base s'ecured to the bottom of the pan and extending laterally thereacross, stiifening members secured to the bottom of the pan andextend ing substantially at right angles tothe insu` lating base having panel-supporting devices substantially flush with the outer face of the base and panel members supported upon the stilenng members and substantially closing the openings inthe sidewalls of the enclosure member, the said panel members having openings through which the conductors may-extend exteriorly of the housing.

6; A panel board comprising a bottom pan, an enclosure member having side walls con. formingin contour to the side walls of the pan and terminating adjacent the edgesof the pan, means for attaching the end-closure member to the pan, an insulating base secured 'to the bottom of. the pan and extending laterally thereacross, stiii'ening members secured to the bottom of the pan and extending longitudinally of the pan and having panel-sup-A l porting devicessubstantially flush with the outer face of the base, bus bars attached to the base and extending longitudinally ofthe pan and in superimposed relation, panel members mounted on the stiilening members and on opposite sides of the bus bars, electrical devices on the panel members and means for connecting the electrical devices to the bus bars.V

7. A panelboard comprising a bottom pan, an enclosure member having side walls conforming in contour to the side walls of the pan and terminating adjacent the edges of the pan, the said adjacent edges ofthe side walls being cut away to'provide openings between the edges of the pan and side walls, stil'ening members secured to the bottom of the pan, and panel members mounted on the stifl'e'ning members in spaced relation to the bottombof the pan and substantially closing the said openings, the said panel members being provided with openings through which con# ductors mayv extend exteriorly of the lenclosure member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of August,

CHRISTIAN AALBORG. 

